2 Excerpts of the Osceola Sentinel Centennial Edition, August 2, 1951. From 1851 to 1951

was held in August of 1851, with 37 votes case. The following men were elected to office: John A Lindsley, County Judge; Alonzo R. Williams, Clerk; Perez Cowles, Treasurer and recorder; George G. Glenn, Assessor; Ivison Ellis, Sheriff; Robert Jamison, School Fund Commissioner; Jerry Jenks, Surveyor; and Dickinson Webster, Sr., John Shearer and Bernard Arnold, County Commissioners.                          

James Graham, Beverly Searcy and Samuel D. Bishop were appointed to locate the seat of justice for Clarke County; and they made their report on August 16, 1851, selecting the present site of Osceola, being located in the Southwest Quarter of Section 17, Township 72 North of Range 25 West of the 5th P.M. The land had previously been entered at the land office in Chariton, Iowa, on March 14, 1851, by George W. Howe. The town site was first called Osceola.

The first courthouse, located on the north side of the town square near the northwest corner, was completed in 1854, at a cost of $1,600.00. It was abandoned January 1, 1883, and the county offices were moved around to various back rooms and second story offices around the square. Finally, a second courthouse was built, and was ready to use in 1894. It was a red brick building with a clock tower, and was in use until 1954, when the county offices were moved to a building on the southwest corner of the square.

On October 10, 1955, a contract for $2,600.00 was let to tear down the second courthouse. An additional $600.00 was authorized to salvage the old clock, plus 40 cents per pound for the removal of the bell3 Bonds were approved in the amount of $275,000.00, and construction began on the present courthouse during the winter of 1955-56. The cornerstone was laid on August 20, 1956, and the building was first occupied on November 15, 1956.

                        

The first white people in Clarke County were the Mormons enroute from Nauvoo, Illinois, to Salt Lake City in 1846 and 1847. Quite a number of settlers came to Clarke County in 1851 and established permanent homes in practically every township in the county.

After the Clarke County Commissioners purchased 160 acres for the County Seat, Osceola was established in 1851. By 1860 the population of Clarke County rose to 5,427 and 650 persons living in Osceola. After the Burlington and Missouri Rail Road was constructed in 1868, population of Osceola rapidly increased to 1,298 by 1870. Immigrant trains replaced wagon trains in bringing families their personal property and livestock from the East.

According to an 1885 report of J. W. Estes, Assessor and census taker, Osceola had grown to 3,172 persons including 18 people who were 75 years of age or over. Less than 6/10 of 1% lived to be 75 years as compared to 11% of the Osceola residents who are now 75 and over (as of August 2, 1951).

Education suffered-the same 1885 census report listed 12 adults who couldn't read or write and 19 who could read but not write. Iowa now has the nation’s highest literacy rate because it has one of the nation's best school systems.

The assessor's report of 1885 also listed the following livestock inside the Osceola city limits: "229 head of cattle, 254 horses, 14 mules, 155 swine and 72 dogs." Even families in the towns of that era were very dependent on their animals for food and transportation.

The public school report for the school year ending June 7, 1870, reported the following enrollment: 244 males and 256 females totaling 500 pupils. However, the daily average attendance was only 130 males and 148 females, averaging 278 students daily. Apparently absenteeism was a problem for various reasons such as working, sickness, weather, etc.

A shortage of qualified teachers existed; the Osceola School Board on August 17, 1871, gave notice that a department would be opened that fall for the education of teachers for the important work of instructing the young. The Normal Training Department was under the direction of W. A. McKee, Principal.

Communication skills were different in that era. Gay blades of the 1860's that shot off pistols or shotguns during the moments of excitement within the Osceola Corporation limits were fined one dollar. The account tells of one who got his money back: "The fine of $1.00 imposed upon W----- S-----, a short time since, for shooting in the corporation, has been declared unconstitutional. The spot upon which he stood ain't incorporated and the dollar will not accumulate in the treasury."

Another news article in July 1869: "---------, saloon keeper near the depot, was arrested last Saturday upon the charge of being a nuisance, was brought before the Justice on Tuesday and waived examination until term of court - - - where the thing will be sifted down to whether he really is or ain't."

Foremost happenings in the early 20th century follows: Automobiles were first advertised in the Osceola newspapers in 1911. The first airplane landed in Clarke County in 1912. The first gasoline bulk station was authorized in May 1913. An ordinance was passed by the town council authorizing storage of "illuminating oil, coal oil, naptha, benzine, gasoline, and other petroleum products." Six years later, a permit was issued for the first Auto Service Station.

In 1913 automobile parking began to attract attention of the town council. Cars were limited to 5 minute parking within 20 feet of the hitch-racks, which were on all four sides of the town square. Parking time was unlimited as long as cars were more than 20 feet from the hitch­racks! Free parking continues in Osceola today in authorized parking spaces. The first concrete paving in Osceola occurred in 1926.

Fireworks were ruled out of the city in December 1931, when sales and use were prohibited by ordinance. A revolutionary ordinance was passed in April 1933, permitting the sale of beer in taverns in Osceola. In 1938 it became illegal to have goats in the city limits, and the so-called Leash Law was passed on May 3, 1943, making it illegal for dogs to run at large.

In summary, we have attempted to inform the reader of various items pertaining to rural life in Osceola and Clarke County, i.e., early settlement, schooling, news reporting, city ordinances, transportation, and other pertinent information regarding the first years for permanent residents in the area. We have found very little evidence describing social activities for the early settlers. We understand social life revolved mainly around families and churches of these hardy, self-sufficient pioneers.

 

OSCEOLA, 2000

The current situation of the community can be assessed from two divergent points of view. While Clayton Scott was Executive Secretary for the Clarke County Development Corporation, he wrote as part of their history: "The quality of life enjoyed by the people of a community is inextricably bound to the economic health of the community as a whole. In 1969, the economic health of Clarke County was failing. During a period of unprecedented national growth and prosperity, we were struggling to hold our own-and we were losing. Our economic strength, rooted deeply in agriculture, was declining as farm mechanization and consolidation drastically reduced the need for people to operate our farm land. Unneeded, with better opportunities elsewhere, our young people were leaving at an alarming rate. It was clear that we must produce things other than raw farm products if we were to reverse the trend and regain our share of America's economic pie."

Through efforts in which Eddy Saylor played a significant role, the Development Corporation purchased land for industrial sites. New industries were attracted by the location of Osceola on highways I-35, 34, and 69, and the railroad with AMTRAK. The Development Corporation saw the answer to the economic crisis in jobs and paychecks, and in the year 2000 there are 16 industries, including the Lakeside Casino. In addition to approximately 800 employed at that facility, there are 1,775 manufacturing jobs, which have attracted a new Hispanic population, and the latest report is that 96.3% of the people are employed. Individuals, families, and businesses are benefitted by millions of payroll dollars flowing into the economy each month.